Daily Schedule

Time

Description

7:30-9 a.m.

The children arrive at school to quiet activities, which are chosen to help ease the children into their day. These activities can include art materials, books, puzzles, small blocks, geometric shapes, and lacing materials. We encourage children to eat at home, but if a child does bring breakfast to the center, they can eat it during this time. We encourage healthy breakfast options.

The children participate in morning circle, where they’re encouraged to share things, including what they did at home the night before and the activities they’ll be participating in that day. We also read stories during this time.

Developmental areas covered: Social and language development, early literacy

9:45-10 a.m.

We reserve this time period for children to use the bathroom and have a snack. We provide healthy snacks and beverages to the children. There are some occasions where we will have different snacks to celebrate special occasions, such as birthdays.

Developmental areas covered: Nutrition, health, social and language development

10-11 a.m.

During this time, the children are able to participate in free play or structured activities. There are various learning centers set up throughout the classroom, including a block area, dramatic play area, library, and writing center. During this time, we also offer a variety of art, cooking, and science activities.

The children will clean up their morning activities and prepare to go outside, weather permitting. While outside, the children will have access to the climber, sandbox with digging and modeling toys, the trucks and tricycles, and various other gross motor equipment. We have a large outdoor art easels available for the children to use. When the weather does not allow us to go outside, we’ll take out art materials and an assortment of equipment for the children to use for exercise, including trampolines, balance beams, rolling mats, yoga tapes and mats, and a large selection of dance music.

The children wash up and sit down for lunch. This is not only a time for them to eat; it is important social time. They are allowed to sit with their friends, but also are encouraged to sit with other children in the class with whom they do not spend as much time. The children are encouraged to eat their healthy food first. We talk about the difference between “healthy” food and “sometimes” foods.

Development areas covered: Social development, health, nutrition

12:40-12:50 p.m.

The children use this time to clean up their lunch items, use the bathroom, and collect any special items that they use to make resting time more comfortable for them. Many children bring special blankets or stuffed animals. We do encourage quiet objects and items that support peaceful behavior. Action figures, such as Spider-Man and Batman, are not allowed at the center and will be put away until the parents’ arrival.

The children use this time to rest and refresh. The lights are turned off and they listen to a few story tapes before soft music is turned on. If the children wake up early, they are provided with a selection of quiet activities to participate in until the others awake.

Developmental areas covered: Early Literacy, health, fine art

3-3:40 p.m.

The children help to gather all of their rest-time materials, put them away, and meet on the circle rug. There they put on their shoes, talk about afternoon activities, and then they move to the tables to have a snack.

The children begin to depart during this time. If the weather permits, we will go outside to use the climber and other equipment until all of the children have been picked up. If inside, we provide art activities, group board games, puzzles, or dance music.

This schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the teachers or for special events. During the summer session (July 1-Sept. 1), the schedule and activities have much more of a camp-like atmosphere.